Traditional cultural centres planned in capital Dhaka

Dhaka, Jan 26 – Two cultural centres will be built in city’s Uttara and Mirpur area to spread the practice of cultural activities throughout the city.Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor told UNB “The design for the construction of the cultural centre in Uttara has been completed. Similarly, another cultural centre will be built in Mirpur of Dhaka very soon aiming to spread the practice of traditional culture in the whole city.”
The minister, however, did not elaborate on the size of the areas of the centres and exact timeline when these will be completed.
Currently most of the cultural events are being organised in Shahabagh and its adjacent areas – National Museum, Shilpakala Academy, and Bangla Academy. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs and National Library are also located in this central zone.
Citizens from the Uttara and Mirpur areas often miss out these events given the worsening traffic congestion in Dhaka. Cultural organisers as well as citizens have long been demanding decentralization of cultural hubs so that people of all city areas get exposed to traditional cultural activities of the country.
Mentioning the cultural ministry’s low budget, the cultural minister said “We are trying our best to make the country’s cultural development through our limited means and low budget. Participation of all will gear up our effort manifold.”
“We have almost finished construction of Shilpakala Academy in every district of the country. The government has begun to build the work of constructing the open-air place to perform (Muktamancha), auditorium and library in every upazila,” he said.
He added that the present government is very sincere and committed to promoting the practice and development of standard arts and culture in the country according to the nation’s tradition and root.
Stressing on the need for a separate cadre for cultural activities, Noor said “Department of Archeology, National Museum, Shilpakala Academy, and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, are specialized types. So I think that the officers of General or Administration cadre are not capable of handling such specialized institutions in a timely and efficient manner.”
“Introduction of a separate cadre is being tried for cultural activities in the country, to make organizations more public, viable and dynamic.” – UNB